Iran confirms fresh uranium processing

Iran today moved closer to being referred to the UN security council over its nuclear programme as it confirmed it had started processing a new batch of uranium.

Ali Larijani, the country's chief nuclear negotiator, told the semi-official Mehr news agency that Tehran had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency of its intentions and was now carrying them out.

Iran faces referral to the security council for possible sanctions after failing to convince a sceptical US and EU that its nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful.

The resumption of uranium processing was disclosed by diplomats in Vienna on Wednesday, but today's statement was the first official confirmation.

France, Britain and Germany - the troika who negotiated with Iran on behalf of the EU - were today meeting in London to decide on a response to Iran's nuclear activities.

Mr Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told Mehr he was optimistic about the outcome of the next IAEA meeting on November 24.

"I think the result of this meeting will be positive and favourable for Iran," the negotiator, who has previously said nuclear technology is the "right of Iranians", said.

Iran is permitted to process uranium for civilian purposes under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, but the EU, US and others point to the concealment of its enrichment programme from the IAEA for 18 years as reason to be suspicious. Enriched uranium for power stations can be further enriched to weapons-grade material.

Tehran this week rejected a compromise proposal, made with US and EU support, that would enable it to maintain a uranium enrichment programme as long as that process was completed in Russia.

Iran suspended its uranium enrichment programme in November last year and began talks with the EU troika, but the talks collapsed when the programme was restarted in August.

The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, unexpectedly elected in June, has adopted a tougher line on many issues - particularly negotiations with Europe over the country's nuclear programme.

Hardliners criticised the previous government of President Mohammad Khatami for agreeing to freeze nuclear activities during the talks. Mr Ahmadinejad has replaced many of his predecessor's negotiators.

The Guardian has learned that Mr Ahmadinejad's clearout was more sweeping than previously understood and reached almost every branch of government, bringing Iran close to political paralysis.

Dozens of deputy ministers have been sacked in several government departments this month, as well the heads of the state insurance and privatisation organisations.

Last week, seven state bank presidents were dismissed in what an Iranian source described as "a coup d'état".